Illegal Behavior,Neighborhood Context,and Police Reporting by Victims of Violence

Abstract

Objectives. To assess (1) if robberies and assaults are less likely to be reported when the victim is engaged in crime and if this relationship can be explained by characteristics of the incident, victim, or the victim’s neighborhood and (2) if neighborhood context moderates the effects of offending on reporting. Methods. The data include 832 victimizations reported in the Pittsburgh Youth Study (PYS). All data are self-reported except neighborhood disadvantage and crime rates, which were measured using census data and police records, respectively. Data are analyzed using random intercept models. Findings. Victimizations are less likely to be reported when the victim is more involved in crime and this relationship is not fully explained by characteristics of the victim, incident, or the victim’s neighborhood. The effect of offending on reporting is stronger for incidents in which the victim resided in a high-crime or disadvantaged neighborhood. Conclusions. Victims' offending is an important correlate of reporting; however, the assumption that criminals are unwilling or unable to use formal social control seems to apply mainly to those who reside in disadvantaged or high-crime neighborhoods. Future research should explore why offenders' willingness to report varies by neighborhood context.